Improvement in cigar-boxes



I. POPPER. Cigar-Box.

No. 206,824. Patented Aug. 6, I878.

NPEfER S, PHOTO-UTHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON- D C.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ISIDOR POPPER, OF NE YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN CIGAR-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N0. 206,824, ated August 6,1 78; application filed June 25, 1878.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ISIDOR POPPER, of thecity and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Cigar-Box,of which the following is a description, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, making a part of the specification.

Oi gar-boxes as usually constructed have their sides and ends nailedtogether, and to these is nailed the bottom. In the boxes, however theymay be constructed, the cigars are packed under pressure.

In purchasing cigars it is desirable and necessary to ascertain whetherthe cigars are of uniform quality and eqnall y well made throughout thepackage. With boxes of ordinary construction this can only be learned bypartially or wholly removing the cigars from the box, so that they canbe examined and samples withdrawn from the package. This isobjectionable, as thereby the cigars are frequently disarranged, and itis often difficult to again properly replace them in the box.

The cigar-box invented by me permits the ends of the cigars to beentirely exposed, so that the cigars can be fully examined withoutremoving or in any way disturbing the cigars in the box, my improvementconsisting in uniting the front to the bottom and to the end pieces ofthe box by strips of tough fabric only, covering the joints thereof andglued to the wood, the top or cover being preferably secured to the topedge of the front by a single nail, which may be readily removed topermit the turning down of the front when the fabric covering the jointsof said front and the end pieces is cut, the strip which unites the saidfront to the bottom serving as a hinge.

My improved cigar-box is constructed as follows: The ends 1 1 only ofthe box are nailed to the bottom 2, and a single nail in the middle ofeach end is sufficient. The front 3 is connected to the bottom by astrip of cloth, a, or other suitable material, folded over the edge ofthe front and bottom and glued there to, whichforms ahinge, such as isusually used to permit the opening and closing of the covers of boxes.The front 3 is also connected to the ends 1 1 by similar strips of clothI) b, or other thin and firm material, which are glued or cemented overthe joint between the ends and front, and the front has no other meansof attachment. The cover is connected to the box by a flexible strip,which unites it to the top edge of the back of the box and serves as ahinge. A single nail, 4, secures it to the top edge of the front.

This mode of fastening or connecting the ends and front piece gives tothe box sufficient firmness and strength to withstand all pressurerequired in packing the cigars therein, and also as effectually closesthe box to keep out all dampness and to retain the aroma of the cigar aswhen the front and ends are nailed together.

When it is desired to examine the cigars in such a box it is onlynecessary to start the nails holding down the cover, and raise the lidor leave it closed, and cut with a knife the strips 11 b at the jointsbetween the sides and ends, when the front can be turned down on thehinge-piece a, exposing the ends of the bunches of cigars, andpermitting cigars to be withdrawn without disarranging the packageinside or raising the lid.

By turning up the front to its normal position the box is again formedand closed, when the strips 1) may or may not be put on again.

If the cigars are laid lengthwise in the box in two courses, then theends only of the box will require to be fitted with hinge-connectionsand edge-strips, so they can be turned down, as shown at c.

The connecting-strips b b may be of cloth, or thin leather, or strongparchment-like paper, or any material of sufficient strength, and whichcan be easily cut or separated by a knife.

I am aware of the patents granted to E. Henkel, July 26,1870, No.105,681; M. Lichtenstein, August 10, 1875, No. 166,534, and T. A. Dodd,August 15, 1876, No. 181,057, and do not claim anything shown ordescribed in said patents, the subjects of which are for purposesentirely different from that of my invention, which, it will beunderstood, consists in uniting the front to the bottom and to the endpieces of the box by strips of tough fabric, only covering the jointsthereof and glued to the wood, so that when the nail which usuallysecures the cover or lid to the top edge of the pieces are cut and thefastening-nail removed from the cover or lid and front, said front maybe turned down, the strip which unites it to the bottom serving as ahinge.

ISIDOR POIIER. Witnesses:

JAMES A. LAW, S. I). LAW.

